Chapter 77: A Member of the Royal Family (Part Two)
Leaving behind a graceful figure as he cleaned up the mess in the private room, Hua Manlou steadily led Xie Huailing out. His strength was as gentle as his personality; his movements appeared relaxed, yet his steps were incredibly swift. The two weaved through the chaotic corridors of the restaurant and the panicked crowd, skillfully avoiding the most intense fighting areas, and arrived at the covered walkway.
Occasionally, some reckless assassins from the Six and a Half Hall would leap out from the shadows or around corners, intending to obstruct or capture Xie Huailing. Hua Manlou didn't need to look; he simply flicked his sleeve, his fingertips pointing out with a seemingly casual movement. The assassin would be struck as if by a heavy blow, collapsing to the ground with a muffled groan, no longer a threat. He never killed anyone; his movements were as elegant as brushing a withered leaf from a flowerbed. It was the blind leaf that fell to the ground with a cracking sound, and it could never be said to be Hua Manlou's fault.
Another blade flashed from around the corner, aimed straight at Xie Huailing's ribs, the angle was tricky and the timing was ruthless.
Hua Manlou's hand, which was resting on Xie Huailing's arm, moved almost simultaneously, but another figure was faster than him.
The wind subsided, followed by a sharp "crack," and then a short, piercing scream. The assassin's wrist had been snapped by a suddenly extended hand. The attacker was swift and lightning-fast; as the assassin's longsword flew from his hand in agony, the hand transformed into a palm strike, slicing into the assassin's neck.
The assassin collapsed to the ground, revealing the young man behind him.
His eyebrows could be described as handsome, but a hint of fierceness was faintly visible, creating a rather contradictory impression on his face. It seemed that the young man himself did not quite understand what had happened, and there was still doubt in his eyes when he stopped. However, when his gaze fell on Xie Huailing, who was being protected behind Hua Manlou, his doubts and fierceness instantly dissipated, leaving only a clearly visible blush on the tips of his ears.
The young man subconsciously turned his face slightly away, but his gaze couldn't help but sneak back to Xie Huailing, looking at her discreetly. He seemed to want to confirm that she was alright, yet he didn't understand how he had encountered her here. He was both surprised and frightened, and also felt embarrassed about his appearance.
His identity was revealed by Hua Manlou, who raised his hand to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Young Master Nangong."
"Young Master Hua, there's no need for such formalities." Nangong Ling also cupped her hands in greeting to Hua Manlou, but while speaking, her gaze drifted towards Xie Huailing. "I wonder what happened? Miss Xie, Miss Xie... are you alright?"
The latter half of his sentence revealed his true intention. Nangong Ling strode forward, wanting to get a closer look at Xie Huailing's condition, but stopped two steps away. He didn't know her well; this was too offensive.
And indeed, Xie Huailing maintained a blank expression, looking at him as if he were invisible, showing no sign of responding. But she was indeed glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, because her gaze was simultaneously fixed on the direction he had come from; she was paying attention to something else.
Hua Manlou responded with a gentle smile, saying, "Thank you again for your concern, Young Master. We are unharmed. Today, it was assassins sent by the Six and a Half Hall who were causing trouble, determined to take Miss Xie's life."
Nangong Ling's expression changed, his eyebrows furrowing in shock and anger. He asked, "Six and a half points?"
Thinking about it carefully, this is not surprising. It is perfectly normal for the Six and a Half Hall to assassinate an important figure of the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion. Before Xie Huailing came, Ren Ci had repeatedly instructed Nangong Ling to strengthen the guard and not give the Six and a Half Hall any opportunity at the crucial moment.
But reason and emotion are different. Looking at Xie Huailing now, even knowing how formidable she was in the martial arts world, Nangong Ling couldn't help but think of the shortcomings of the Six and a Half Hall and his own dereliction of duty, and was filled with worry. He had forgotten that Xie Huailing might have other plans; he only thought about his own inadequacy.
Xie Huailing's gaze seemingly unintentionally swept across the depths of the restaurant's corridors, landing on the door of the most grand and luxurious private room at the end.
The best private room that Lu Xiaofeng couldn't book; the restaurant manager said it had already been reserved by a distinguished guest; and Nangong Ling was coming from this direction... A dark glint flashed in Xie Huailing's eyes. She had a rough idea of who the distinguished guest was that Nangong Ling was hosting with such solemnity at this time and place.
As this speculation deepened, she began to assess the current situation and whether it still allowed her to do anything. But when she saw Hua Manlou standing beside her, all her other thoughts were put aside.
I still have to go first, Xie Huailing thought.
She turned to the side, no longer facing Nangong Ling directly, and reached out to pull Hua Manlou's sleeve.
At this moment, Nangong Ling spoke up. He was eager to make a statement and, seeing Xie Huailing's intention to leave, immediately straightened his back and deliberately raised his voice: "I happen to be hosting a banquet here today. The private room is quite safe. If Miss Xie and Young Master Hua Qi don't mind, please come with me. Protecting Miss Xie's safety is what the Beggar Clan should do. I, Nangong Ling, am here, and I will not allow anyone to lay a finger on Miss Xie!"
Hua Manlou thought about it for a moment and realized that this was indeed more thorough. He turned to look at Xie Huailing and asked her with gentle eyes.
Xie Huailing's hand, which was about to tug at his sleeve, stopped halfway. Now there was no need to consider anything else; the excuse and the opportunity had been delivered to him by Nangong Ling himself.
She nodded slightly, and Nangong Ling eagerly led the way. He led the two of them in the direction that was indeed the private room at the end of the corridor from which he had come.
Passing through two heavy, carved wooden doors, a spacious private room came into view. The gold and jade decorations highlighted the magnificence of the place, yet they became less conspicuous. It was as if, although there were countless furnishings here, which were overwhelmingly luxurious, they did not fall into vulgarity, but rather had an extraordinary sense of style.
It was because there was a person sitting upright in the seat by the window.
He was dressed in a snow-white robe, spotless, his face serene and otherworldly, cold and hard, devoid of any warmth. Just sitting there, the aura of chilling solitude surrounding him was enough to lower the temperature of the entire private room. He truly lived up to his name; he seemed like a man from another world, remaining in this mortal realm only for a sword.
As expected, the Lord of Baiyun City is Ye Gucheng.
Xie Huailing lowered her eyes, avoiding looking at him and shielding her vision.
Nangong Ling explained the situation to Ye Gucheng. He knew it was impolite to suddenly bring two people back, so he said politely, "Lord Ye, I apologize for this. These two are the seventh young master of the Hua family and Miss Xie from the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion. Just now, there were thugs outside the restaurant who attempted to assassinate Miss Xie. The situation was chaotic, so for their safety, I brought them to this private room for temporary refuge. I hope you will forgive me."
Ye Gucheng slowly raised his eyes. He looked at Hua Manlou and then at Xie Huailing, without lingering on them for more than a few seconds. People with swords in their hearts are always like this, and they don't even show much emotion when they speak. He said, "It's alright, safety is the most important thing."
He had no intention of pressing the matter further. Xie Huailing's existing doubts only grew stronger. Given Ye Gucheng's temperament, how had Nangong Ling become his friend? Could their relationship truly be considered a friendship within the martial arts world?
She observed discreetly, exchanging only a greeting with Ye Gucheng before falling silent. Given her status, she had no need to consider Ye Gucheng's feelings, so her aloofness was perfectly reasonable. Hua Manlou exchanged a few pleasantries with Ye Gucheng before falling silent as he waited patiently for the fighting outside to cease, pondering Lu Xiaofeng's situation.
The only sound left in the room was Nangong Ling pouring tea. He earnestly poured Xie Huailing a cup of tea and placed it beside her. As the steam rose, his ears turned even redder. Although Xie Huailing didn't even glance at him, as if rejecting him would be superfluous, this complete disregard only made her seem more aloof in Nangong Ling's eyes. He felt that even if she were heartless, she was still a captivating celestial being.
Silence enveloped the room. In the corner, a Ru kiln vase, as tall as a person, held a few flowers at an angle, their stamens still fresh and glistening with dew. Xie Huailing's gaze shifted, looking at the newly opened camellias before returning to the tea tray on the table.
The tea set in the restaurant consisted of four cups. When she sat down, there were still two cups on the tea tray, while the remaining two were placed in front of Ye Gucheng and Nangong Ling, clearly for their tea tasting during their conversation. From this, it was clear that Nangong Ling had only invited Ye Gucheng. However, Xie Huailing, being extremely observant, naturally wouldn't miss the slight water stain on the rim of one of the cups on the tea tray.
This is quite common; it's just water stains left when washing and scalding teaware, and it's part of the tea ceremony. But what's strange is that there are no such water stains on the rim of the other cup.
Why is one there and the other not? Xie Huailing looked at the teacup in Ye Gucheng's hand again. The water droplets had been wiped clean, and the cup was dry in his hand. She had heard that Ye Gucheng was a germaphobe.
Such marks can only be explained by one thing: Ye Gucheng wiped the cup and then put it back on the tea tray.
Why would he go to all that trouble? If he was just changing the cup, the waiter should have taken the one that was being replaced out. Why put it back?
Unless, just now, there was a third person in this private room besides Nangong Ling and Ye Gucheng.
This person likely left after hearing the fighting in the restaurant—no, they might have hidden themselves. With the restaurant in such turmoil, it would be risky for someone unrelated to the situation to try and escape—which is why Nangong Ling dared to bring her and Hua Manlou here. This person must also be someone who cannot easily show themselves, which is why Ye Gucheng disguised himself after this person got up. And putting all these conclusions together, who is this person worth Nangong Ling and Ye Gucheng going to such lengths for?
Xie Huailing's gaze was deep and unfathomable, like ink. She glanced around at the room again, her eyes finally settling on the screen in the cubicle.
Separated only by a screen, behind which lay a hidden cubicle. Xie Huailing withdrew her gaze, her long eyelashes drooping slightly, concealing all the glint in her eyes.
Furthermore, Nangong Ling's respectful attitude towards Ye Gucheng is itself quite intriguing. When she initially included the Beggars' Sect in her plan, she knew that the Beggars' Sect would not be peaceful, but now, looking at it again, it seems to be much more than that.
However, she knew very well that now was not the time to inquire.
Xie Huailing chose to remain silent for a short while, not uttering a word, as if she hadn't thought of anything at all, and as if nothing was surging beneath the surface of the Beggars' Sect's waters.
Time flowed by in the seemingly calm yet turbulent wait. When the shouts of battle and the clash of swords outside the window gradually subsided and finally fell silent, Hua Manlou was the first to stand up, followed by Xie Huailing.
Hua Manlou politely clasped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Young Master Nangong and City Lord Ye. Now that it's quiet outside, Miss Xie and I still need to find Lu Xiaofeng, so we won't disturb your gathering any longer. Farewell."
Nangong Ling quickly stood up as well, insisting on personally seeing the two to the restaurant entrance. Reluctantly, he watched as the heavy wooden door of the private room slammed shut behind him.
Ye Gucheng stopped drinking tea. Once the footsteps had completely disappeared and there was no possibility of him turning back, he coughed.
This sound was a signal. After the sound, the screen in the partition slid smoothly to the side about a foot away, and a slender and graceful figure quietly emerged from the shadows behind the screen.
She changed into another gorgeous dress, her hair slightly loosened, and the golden hairpin in her hair reflected shimmering light with each step. But because her back was very straight and her demeanor was impeccably noble, the hairpin did not sway even once, even after she had walked out.
She kept her head down, her shoulders hunched as if she were hidden inside her clothes, not wearing them. An extreme cowardice and unease emanating from her very bones had completely overwhelmed her; she didn't even dare to look up at anyone, only staring at her toes.
Ye Gucheng turned to look at her: "Why did you suddenly turn back?"
"...It was too chaotic. I was afraid someone would see me if I went out rashly, so I stayed in the cubicle."
The girl's fingers clenched even tighter. After a long while, she spoke again in a barely audible voice, "I'm worried, I'm worried, they've found me."
Ye Gucheng's voice was completely flat: "No, judging from their reaction, they haven't discovered you. Besides, the coachman and maid who came with us today are all assassins. They will not reveal your whereabouts at all before the mission is accomplished."
The girl shook her head sharply, only slightly. She then slowly raised her head, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty, pale with fear. She was truly terrified, but behind that fear, in her timid eyes, a clear and sharp light shone forth.
If Xie Huailing were here, she could determine the true hierarchy of this banquet based solely on this glimmer of light.
“I’m still worried…” The girl’s voice was as weak as she was, but it was laced with venom, growing colder with each word. “I’m worried she’ll find out. I know she’s a smart person, and I… don’t like smart people. It’s too much trouble to be wary of smart people, and the Golden Wind and Drizzle Pavilion is also a problem. If she investigates me, it will be very difficult to handle.”
Ye Gucheng looked at her silently and replied, "I will deal with the people who came with me today. They won't say anything."
The girl quickly followed his voice, seemingly agreeing but actually refuting: "No, not enough."
She seemed to be provoked by his answer. Her breathing quickened, and she gently bit her lower lip. When she released it, her eyes were still filled with timidity, but this could only mean one thing.
This indicates that she has many complicated thoughts in her heart, and she is not someone who can be easily understood. When a person's thoughts are too deep, their eyes will no longer be the windows to their soul.
As if terrified, frightened by what she was about to say, the girl exhaled before continuing. Without a moment's hesitation, she issued her commands, in her weak, timid voice:
“Kill him.”
After saying that, the girl loosened her intertwined fingers and added, "What we need to do must not be discovered. Even if they are assassins, we must not leave a single one alive."
.
Then came the night as the sun set and the music faded and the lamps dimmed.
Shaman was extremely grateful to Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou, and hurriedly added more things to the letter she hadn't sent yet, wondering how thick the letter would be when Su Mengzhen finally received it. Xie Huailing arranged some things for her to finish up, then returned to her room and leisurely leaned against the couch.
Some people, once they say they're coming, will never be late. They live in the shadows, clinging to you as if they've never left. Just a table's distance away, Gong Jiu sat opposite her.
The night was cool and still. Gong Jiu put down the gift he had brought that night—a ruby hairpin. His gaze lingered on Xie Huailing's slightly weary face, and his first words were, "Do you need help with the Six and a Half Hall matter?"
"No need. They can't do anything to me in Bianjing, so there's no reason why I can do anything outside of Bianjing." Xie Huailing propped his head up with one hand and covered his lips with the other, letting out a lazy yawn.
She leaned closer and asked Gong Jiu, "When will you give me an answer about the matter I asked you to investigate?"
Gong Jiu pondered for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. He and Ye Gucheng were two extremes. In his daily life, he was even a somewhat slow person. He calmly and unhurriedly found what he wanted to say: "The person Ye Gucheng brought did not leave many traces and cleaned up her mess well. It will be quite troublesome to investigate her, but it's also a coincidence."
"What a coincidence!"
He seemed quite pleased to be questioned by Xie Huailing. Gong Jiu met her gaze and quickly replied, lightly throwing out a very informative statement: "Coincidentally, I know her."
Xie Huailing's half-closed eyes opened completely, as if illuminated by a flame. Her gaze sharpened infinitely before settling on a fixed point.
There is only one possibility for someone to be recognized by Gong Jiu.
Sure enough, Gong Jiu said, "When you described her features to me, I already felt that she was somewhat familiar. After a little research, I understood everything. In terms of status, she can call me 'Brother King.' She is a princess of the Southern Prince's Mansion. Ye Gucheng is teaching her brother swordsmanship. It's reasonable for Ye Gucheng to take her along."
The girl's figure appeared in his mind, and Xie Huailing still remembered every move she made. He tapped his hand on the back of the couch and said softly, "It's a strange thing that a princess has such a personality."
“There’s nothing strange about it.” Gong Jiu knew a bit about the family affairs of the royal relatives, and continued, “She wasn’t always a princess. The Prince of Nan only has one son, but he has two or three daughters. Unlike her sisters, she wasn’t born to the principal wife. Her birth mother was just a concubine who died young, and the Prince of Nan probably doesn’t even remember her name. I’ve been to the Prince of Nan’s residence a few times, and I only remember that the people there weren’t very good-tempered. I only saw her once. In such circumstances, how could she survive without being humble and submissive?”
"It's because her fate wasn't too bad. A few years ago, when an epidemic raged, she was the only one of her two or three daughters to survive. So the Prince of Nan petitioned for her to be granted a title, and that's how she became a princess."
Having received Gong Jiudao's assessment that "his temper isn't exactly good," Xie Huailing had a good idea of what the Southern Prince's Mansion was like.
Upon further reflection, she realized that the princess of the Southern Prince's Mansion could only represent the interests of the Southern Prince's Mansion. Why would the Southern Prince's Mansion want to be close to Nangong Ling? What was it about Nangong Ling that they valued? Was it his status as the young leader of the Beggars' Sect, or did they have other motives?
Xie Huailing could answer. Recalling their first meeting, she said, "Because she is a princess of the Southern Prince's Mansion, she cannot be discovered to be here. Because she is a princess of the Southern Prince's Mansion, she must act discreetly. But she happened to appear at Ren Ci's birthday banquet. It can only be because of Ren Ci's birthday banquet; she has a compelling reason to attend. And since the banquet was organized by Nangong Ling, if she wanted something from the banquet, Nangong Ling could simply give it to her. Therefore, what she is after is not the things, but the person and the opportunity."
"She could only see him at Ren Ci's birthday banquet, and there was no other place she could have contact with him. There was only one person and one opportunity, which was Ren Ci himself and the opportunity to see Ren Ci."
In other words, an opportunity to get to know Ren Ci personally.
If Xie Huailing wanted to do something to someone or some organization, she would do the same thing, just like she would meet with Yuan Dongyuan first before making plans for Wuzheng Manor.
After making her deduction, Xie Huailing returned to the previous topic, the topic of the Southern Prince's Mansion. She sensed something else in it, glanced at him, and said to Gong Jiu, "You seem to know a lot about other people's affairs. I thought you wouldn't care about these things."
Gong Jiu spoke frankly, saying, "I really don't care much. It's because I have people planted within the Southern King's fiefdom that I know."
He truly dared to say anything, making no attempt to hide the signs that he had something on his mind, as if he hoped she would ask more questions so he would reveal everything. Xie Huailing understood that he must still have secrets, but she wouldn't linger with him at this moment, letting the matter drop lightly: "Then use it. I want to know what the Southern Prince's Mansion is planning. Although it's a long and arduous journey, you have a way, right?"
Gong Jiu nodded. This was indeed not a difficult matter for him. He would naturally listen to her without her even asking.
The moonlight drifted endlessly, rushing towards nowhere in the night. The light it cast was like fragmented shadows. Xie Huailing closed his eyes again.
Gong Jiu gazed at her quietly, and just as the moonlight flew onto her face, leaving two small shadows under her eyelashes, he spoke.
“I know you’ve investigated some things in Bianjing,” he said. “I also know that you’re staying at the Beggars’ Sect instead of at the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion, which must be for some other reason. But with so many unexpected complications, it’s all a case of man proposes, God disposes.”
Xie Huailing didn't even bother to open his eyes, tilting his head to the side: "Watching me every day won't make your life any easier; it will only expose the fact that you dare to interfere in other people's affairs even under the emperor's nose."
“I did indeed place it. Because I have things I want to do, just as you have things you want to do.”
Gong Jiu asked, "Don't we seem like a good match?"
Xie Huailing said "get lost" three times in a row.
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First, here's an extra chapter for everyone.
By now, you should all understand why an original character was added to this volume.
The original novel doesn't explain why Ye Gucheng colluded with the Southern Prince's Mansion. From my perspective, Ye Gucheng doesn't represent the interests or inclinations of the Southern Prince's Mansion. Therefore, to expand this storyline, it would be more logical to add some of my own additions, so I added this character.
This volume features multiple parallel storylines. Apart from this girl, there are no other original characters (please remember this).
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